TOPICS OF THE DAY.

Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14404, 11 July 1912, Page 6

TOPICS OF THE DAY.

Readers of tho "AraSeeing Things bian Nights" will refor member tho exploits Himself. of that enterprising

and popular Sultan, Haroun-al-Raschid, who, not content with the reports of his Ministers on the stato of his kingdom and the lives of his people, went about himself in disguise among his subjects to sco things as they really wero. A similar plan has been carried out by other rulors, and the latest to do so, though in a less romantic and moro up-to-dato manner, is tho Governor of Bengal, who until recently was Governor of Madras. Lord Carmichaol has investigated for himself in this way numerous abuses in the various public services. For example, it having como to his ears that thirdclass carriages on the railways were shockingly overcrowded, he himself 'went for a third-class ride, shabbily dressed, to a junction not far from Madras. Ho found the carnage packed almost to- suffocation with crowd of noisy, half-clad, and perspiring natives, who wero penned together in tho hot and 'narrow compartment like sheep. Having arrived at his destination,, the Governor spent the night on tho station, examining tho thirdclass carriegos of all tho trains that passed, and watching tho behaviour of the Eurasian guards and officials. In tho morning ho returned to Madras— with a first-class ticket. On another occasion Lord Carmichaol spent half an hour in one of the crowded Madras market-places, which he had hoard was j neglected by the police. After chat-1 ting with a number of the buyers and j sellers, and satisfyiug himself, by tho ! use of his own eyes ond cars as to tho I truth of the accusation, ho mado his' way to the police station, and put a few searching questions to the officials, whereupon ho was told to mind his, own business. "That is exactly what I am doing," ho replied. Ho then asked for the inspection book kept for the entry of remarks, and the astonishment of tho constables on seeing the signature of the Governor of Madras may bo imagined. Naturally a Governor who adopts these methods does not enjoy great popularity with the Civil Service, to the members of which this sort of zeal on the part of those in high places does not appeal strongly. AVith the general people, however. Lord Carrnichacl is very popular, though his popularity cart hardly be put down to his Haroun-al-Raschid escapades, which are known only to a few. There ro-

mains the undoubted fact that tlio people ol India do not realise that personal worth in a ruler can exist independently of outward pomp and splendour. If Indian*} saw their Viceroy riding a bicycle with a cloth cap on his head, they would, as \iscount Hardingo bus said, be perfectly horrified, A runaway horse 1j a sight 1 A often enough to bo witJJoltinjx »ess-od in tho streets ol" a Steamer, city. Motor-cars have been known to take trips on their own initiative, through some accident or through carelessness on tho part of their drivers. But n bolting ferryboat has a distinct novelty about it. Such a vessel did actually run nwny the other day in Sydney Harbour. The runaway was a ferry-boat which was running »** tho Cromorno service, and had discharged her passengers at Circular Quay. The master had loft her for a few minutes, and when ho returned, to his amazement, his boat whs going down the harbour with no ono at the wheel. Anyone who knows how crowded Sydney Harbour is will realise tho possibilities of disaster in such a situation. Tho huo and cry was instantly raised, and two other boats wero hastily despatched after tho absconding vessel, the men on board of which were blissfully unconscious that anything wa.s wrong. Whistles weie furiously blown and all efforts made by those ou tlm pursuing steamers to attract their .'fttention, but still the runaway ploughed hor way blindly ahead, yawing this way and that, but avoiding all passing craft in a positively miraculous way. Luckily at that time oi* day there was a lull in the traffic; otherwise her career would probably have been cut short in a sudden and tragic manner. But another dangor threatened as tho runaway steamer neared Bennolong Point, an awkward turn which it was practically impossible for a boat to mako without guidance. There wero only two things that could happen, unless thoso aboard woke to a realisation of their peril. Sho might crash into an incoming boat rounding tho point, or rush straight into tho rocks at Kirribilli Point, which loomed ahead. The pursuing boats redoubled their efforts and their whistles screeched frantically in urgent summons. Soon the bolting uteamer was observed to bo slowing down, and with engines full astern, she slowly swims round, once more under control. A deck-hand had noticed tho unusual yawing of tho boat, and had looked in casually nt tho deck-houso to enquire what was the cause of it. When he found it empty, he instantly realised tho position, and though unnerved, he had tho presence of mind to jump to tho engino telegraph and signal "full speed astern." Tho exact facts which caused this singular escapade on the part of the ferry-boat aro not qtiito certain. Possibly the master after ringing "astern" to berth the vessel had not moved the telegraph back to tho "stop" position. Tho fireman, seoing that it marked "steam ahead" (tho samo position as "astern" on the incoming journey) and not noticing tho absence of tho master, informed the engineer, and the machinery was startod. In tho face of tho natural retioenoo of all concerned, that is tho best explanation that, can bo given.